CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3] — Page 437

2

10

435

Sir W. Dowell, Commanding Her --- Majesty's Naval Forces in China,

officer of great experience and

as the Admiralty

sound judgment, has frequently recognised. He has written to me to the effect that,

in his opinion, there is

every...

reason to be satisfied with the

French Consul's letter,

which

saye

as much as any English Noval.

Officer would think it nevessary

to

say in explanation and apology

under similar circumstances; --

that the whole affair has been

much

-much exaggerated; and that, after

the straightforward letter of M... Dejardin, nothing more

ought to be

said about the matter. I Pondur

with this view.

7.

I should mention that

Mr. Wongching, the Chinese Member.

of the Legislative Conneil, asked on the 11th instant the following question,

8.

"Whether any apology or explanation has been received from the French Authorities for the reported outrage committed on board a Coal barge in this Harbour on the 19th February last, while the barge was being employed to supply Coal to the French Man-of-war Duguay Trouin, 4

To this question

I

replied to the following effect :-

گوگور